14 May 2018

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Smallbone Park Sports Hub

Enquiry

The reporter requested an update about Smallbone Park following a paragraph in the council agenda from May 3:

Sports Development Feasibility work on establishing sports hub at Smallbone continues. An initial meeting has been held with clubs and a questionnaire is now currently with the four different entities. The sports hub project is being led by Sport Bay of Plenty, working alongside local cricket, hockey and squash associations, Springfield Golf Club and Council, which is assisting with the feasibility study.

Questions are as follows:

- At what stage is the feasibility study at? What has been done and what is still to be done?

- Are the four entities Cricket, hockey, squash and Golf clubs/associations?

- At this stage how likely is it that a sports hub will eventuate?

- If so has the feasibility study identified at what cost?

Response

The reporter was advised that the previous monht's update still stands (see below) and was referred to Sport Bay of Plenty as lead for the project.

Update from 10 April 2018

Please attribute the following statement to Rotorua Lakes Council's Sport and Recreation Manager Rob Pitkethley:

Council has representatives on the working group undertaking a feasibility study looking at the potential establishment of a sports hub at Smallbone Park. Council has contributed $4,000 towards the feasibility assessment, which is currently underway. The study will determine whether it is viable and more detailed planning work should follow.